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What started with a question on why certain items weren’t placed on a future agenda led to tension this week among members of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors.

The answer, per CEO Terry Stokes, is found in the organization’s policies and procedures, which were adopted unanimously in November.

Muddying the water a bit is the fact the procedure for placing items on a agenda was previously listed under the organization’s bylaws, then moved late last year to the policies and procedures manual, as it did not pertain to any legal procedures.

The PAEDC’s bylaws underwent approval by the board and by Port Arthur City Council, while the policies and procedures only need to be approved by the board of directors.

During Thursday’s meeting, board member Jerry LaBove asked why, over the course of four months, his suggested agenda items were not placed on the agenda. Besides having items for possible action, he also asked for information on how to place items on the agenda since the procedure changed.

He thought he was going through the proper procedure to place an item on the agenda, by contacting the secretary and the CEO five business days before said meeting. But even so, the items never made it to the agenda, according to LaBove.

Stokes noted the items can be given to board president Darrell Anderson.

But Anderson, seeking to streamline the meeting and keep business to strictly legal issues, said certain items should be addressed to the people who have the answers, not for board discussion.

The issue came back up for talk when the board returned from executive session under the agenda item “future agenda items or requested reports.”

Anderson appeared to skip the agenda item and move to adjournment until LaBove reminded him of this.

The wording for agenda item VIII — “future agenda items or requested reports” states “items for future agenda consideration or reports from staff may be requested but no discussion of any items or requests shall take place.”

Board members Beverly Raymond and Morris Albright are returning members who previously served. Raymond requested a copy of the policies and procedure, and it was decided board members would receive the new manual.

Added agenda items

LaBove, Albright and Raymond added items to an upcoming agenda, some of which include that all CEO travel outside the Golden Triangle be approved by the board, all CEO invoices be approved by the board prior to reimbursement, the board receives a monthly financial update report and information on the duties and responsibilities of the CEO and deputy CEO.